Indian...at heart

They may travel half way across the globe for theirwedding,but desi couples still want a desi shaadi.So,even when they opt for adestination wedding,they go all out to remain true to tradition.Enlisting theservices of foreign facilitators for the ceremonies,then,is a strict no-no,andeveryone from the caterer and the fashion designer to the mehendiwali and the DJhas to be flown in from India.A case in point is the wedding ofHotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia and Tania Sharma,heiress of the BaidyanathGroup,in 2008 on a private island in Langkawi,Malaysia.Their aim was to keep ita small affair,with 300 guests comprising family and friends.The sangeet outfitwas by Tarun Tahiliani and the wedding ensemble was by Rohit Bal.The make-up andmehendi were done by Mumbai-based artists Kapil and Veena."We pickedDJ Aqueel to provide the acoustics and the catering was done by the Tajhotel,who flew in all their best chefs from all over the world.The decor wastaken care of by Akhil from Delhi,'' says Tania."We wanted a perfect Indianwedding and since we chose the best people in their field from India,we wereassured of that.We were flying away for a destination wedding and if the localDJ,make-up person and caterers did not prove to be up to the mark,there would benothing we could have done about it." Taking a cue from the Bhatiasof the world and their ilk,couples getting married in Hawaii,Honolulu or theHonduras are being accompanied by not just an army of kith and kin,but also anentourage of wedding facilitators from home.Kolkata-based fashion designer KiranUttam Ghosh recently designed an ensemble for a high-profile wedding at avineyard in the breathtaking Napa Valley.Ghosh was an invitee at the do,whichshe described as "a moment out of time" and "food for a fashion person'ssoul".There were champagne breakfasts and brunches at the vineyard,and Ghoshplayed around with hues of grape and plum while designing for the bride."Thereis an individuality and character in Indian designs today that internationalfashion lacks.Also,an Indian designer will have better sensibility about what anIndian bride should wear at a wedding than a foreign designer," shesays.Nikasha Tawadey's creations took centrestage at a lavish Tahitiwedding organised by an Indian industrialist family."The bride chose the weddingensemble from my Lakme Fashion Week resort wedding collection,but I modified thecolours and embroidery to suit her taste.She picked up pieces for her trousseauas well.Prices start at Rs 15,000 for an outfit and go up to a lakh,'' saysTawadey.With the wedding ensemble in place,the bride needs to ensure that her hair and make-up are in tune with the ethnic sensibilities of the couture creation.Enter the make-up artist whose expert strokes can make or break D-Day.Abhijit Chanda,a Kolkata-based make-up artist,often gets assignments at weddings abroad,mostly in Thailand,Hong Kong,Malaysia and Dubai."Aswedding clothes are high on bling and embellishments,brides want subtle make-upfor a natural look.They're willing to experiment with hairstyles and eye make-upcolours,insisting on distinct looks for the various ceremonies." Chanda,whocharges Rs 15,000 per day,is usually roped in for two to three occasions -sangeet,mehendi,wedding or reception.He says the most beautiful bride he's evermade-up was Mumbai-based model Dipannita Sharma,who got married to anAsansol-based businessman at a lavish do at Jodhpur Palace hotel in MountAbu.No Indian wedding is complete without naachgaana,and the sangeetthese days is an elaborate affair,what with choreographed moves played out tohightech music on exquisite Bollywood-style sets.The DJ assumes a role ofsupreme importance here,responsible as he is for ensuring that the music and thesound at the la-di-dah affair is immaculate."Couples hosting weddings abroadprefer to fly down Indian DJs because they want a blend of Indian as well asinternational music - a mix of Bollywood,hip-hop and commercial house similar tothe music they are used to at Indian nightclubs works best," says DJ Harish,theresident DJ at Dublin,the nightclub at ITC Sonar in Kolkata.Harish charges Rs100,000 for a two-three day assignment,with the logistics being the onus of theclient.His music was a big hit at the engagement ceremony of Ankitand Neha Patni at Phuket in January this year.He says,"The best thing about adestination wedding is everyone is removed from the humdrum of daily life andcan let their hair down." Follow us on Twitter for more stories